Promising early results for local teams

(Ed. Note: For the complete Cape Elizabeth-Greely field hockey and Scarborough-Falmouth volleyball game stories, with photos, see theforecaster.net)

The first fall week of the fall sports season reminded us that there are several strong teams in our midst and that the triumph figures to continue.

Here’s a glimpse:

Boys’ soccer

In case anyone had doubts, Scarborough’s two-time defending Class A state champion boys’ soccer team is still the gold standard. Home wins over Biddeford (6-0) and Marshwood (2-0) made the Red Storm 4-0 on the season. Against the Tigers, Matt Caron and Garrett King both scored twice. Brendan Kane and Josh Morrissey had the goals against the Hawks. Scarborough was at Sanford Thursday, hosts Cheverus Saturday (see theforecaster.net for game story) and plays at Noble Tuesday.

South Portland lost at Gorham, 2-1, last Thursday (Kervens Anthoine had the goal), then settled for a 4-4 draw at Westbrook Tuesday. In that one, Gary Maietta scored twice and Ahmed Suja had a goal to produce a 3-0 lead, but the Red Riots couldn’t hold on. Khalid Suja also scored on a penalty kick. South Portland is home with Noble Saturday and goes to Windham Tuesday.

In Western B, Cape Elizabeth suffered its first loss Friday, when it couldn’t hold leads of 2-0 and 3-2 in a 5-3 setback at Yarmouth in a playoff rematch. R.J. Sarka scored twice and Noah Haversat also had a goal. The Capers improved to 3-1 Tuesday with a 4-1 home win over Poland. Cole Caswell had two goals, while Sarka and Eddie Galvin also tickled the twine. Cape Elizabeth hosts Falmouth Saturday and goes to defending Class B champion Greely Tuesday.

In Western D, Greater Portland Christian School won at Chop Point (4-1) and Vinalhaven (3-2) in recent action to improve to 3-0-1. The Lions were at Temple Academy Wednesday, play at Islesboro Friday and welcome Chop Point Tuesday.

South Portland fell to 0-3 Saturday after a 4-0 home loss to Gorham. After hosting Westbrook Wednesday, the Red Riots go to McAuley Friday, visit Deering Monday and host defending Class A champion Windham Wednesday of next week.

Defending Class B state champion Cape Elizabeth had a rough time last week, following up a loss at York with a 2-1 setback at Yarmouth (Kathryn Clark had the Capers’ lone goal, on a penalty kick). Saturday, Cape Elizabeth returned to form in a big way with a 10-0 home victory over Lake Region. Mariah Deschino scored three goals, Clark added a pair and Kate Breed, Katherine Briggs, Tori Diaz, Kirsten Rudberg and Lindsay Stewart all had one. Cape Elizabeth improved to 4-2 Tuesday after an 8-0 victory at Poland. Clark had three goals, while Breed and Briggs each added a pair. The Capers had a showdown at Falmouth Friday, then host Greely Tuesday in a rematch of last year’s regional final (see theforecaster.net for game story).

In Western D, GPCS fell to 0-5 after recent losses to visiting Vinalhaven (2-0) and at Buckfield (7-0) and Vinalhaven (1-0). The Lions are back in action Thursday at Highview Christian.

Field hockey

Scarborough’s field hockey team is still unrivaled. Last week, the Red Storm dominated visiting Noble, 12-0, behind four goals from Kristen Murray, three from Maddy Dobecki and two from Ashley Levesque. Monday, Scarborough improved to 4-0 after blanking host Portland, 7-0. Murray had three more goals, while Abby Walker added two. The Red Storm visited Sanford Thursday, host Windham Monday and visit South Portland Wednesday of next week.

Speaking of the Red Riots, they got their first victory Tuesday, 2-1, at Noble, behind a late goal from Sophia Cummings. Last week, South Portland lost at home to Massabesic, 3-2, despite goals from Cummings and Kelby Doyle (Cummings and Maddie Hasson had assists). Grace Chitam made eight saves. The Red Riots (1-3) hosted Portland Thursday (see theforecaster.net for game story), go to Sanford Monday and welcome Scarborough Wednesday.

In Western B, Cape Elizabeth took a 4-2 mark into Wednesday’s game at Freeport. The Capers were coming off a 4-0 loss at Fryeburg, a 2-1 home win over Lake Region and a 1-0 home victory over Greely. Against the Lakers, Hannah Bosworth and Taylor Young had the goals. In the victory over the Rangers, Taylor Herrera tipped in Caroline Garfield’s shot on a penalty corner for the lone goal.

“It’s just energy and spirit with us,” Herrera said. “The more fired up we get and the more intense we play, the better we play. I think we have some serious potential this year.

“I told the girls at halftime to pick up the steam,” Cape Elizabeth coach Darci Holland said. “We increased our intensity, which was awesome. I was confident we’d score.”

The Capers are home with Kennebunk Friday and have a showdown at Western C contender Yarmouth Tuesday.

“I think we can have an even better season than last year,” said Garfield. “Even though we lost good seniors, we have really good chemistry this year. Going forward, we still need to get shots in. We have to play ping pong with the defense.”

Volleyball

Scarborough’s volleyball team turned heads last week. After handling Gorham and Cheverus by 3-0 margins in their first two matches, the Red Storm went to defending Class A champion Falmouth for a state match encore which proved to be a classic.

Scarborough lost the first set, 20-25 and won the second, 25-22, but after dropping the third, 13-25, appeared doomed when it trailed last in the fourth, but the Red Storm rallied to win, 25-23, then, despite being down, 11-14, in the first-team-to-15, winner-take-all fifth set, Scarborough captured the last five points to win a stunning 16-14 decision to prevail in five games.

“It really shows our team has come together,” said senior Kayla Savage, who had 12 kills. “Everyone did their part. It’s a great win. We got motivated. We never gave up. We fought to the end.”

“It was a great match,” Roberts said. “It’s cool to see a match go five (sets) this early in the season. This was a mental check. It’s great we could come back and win. I love this team. They’re working really hard. There are no superstars, just everybody working together. We knew it would be a good match. Obviously (Falmouth is) a great team. We’re working hard to be a great team, but they’re already there.”

Scarborough went Down East Saturday and lost at Mt. Desert Island, 3-0, then won at Ellsworth, 3-1. Tuesday, the Red Storm improved to 5-1 with a 3-0 (25-16, 25-17, 25-14) home victory Windham. Savage had 11 kills, eight digs and two aces in that one. Scarborough is back in action Wednesday at home versus Kennebunk.

Cape Elizabeth lost for the first time Friday when it fell at perennial powerhouse Greely in three games (20-25, 17-25, 21-25). The Capers improved to 2-1 Monday with a 3-0 (25-11, 25-8, 25-23) win over Cony. Cape Elizabeth hosts Windham Saturday and goes to Cheverus Tuesday.

South Portland fell to 0-4 Tuesday with a 3-0 loss at Biddeford (12-25, 23-25, 7-25). After playing at Falmouth Thursday, the Red Riots host Cony Tuesday and visit Cheverus Thursday of next week.

Cross country

South Portland hosted Cheverus, Marshwood and Windham in a cross country meet last week, its first home meet in three years due to school construction. The Red Riots girls placed first as Casey Loring came in first individually in 19 minutes, 19 seconds. The boys were fourth. Gavin Damian-Loring was the top individual (fifth, 17:20).

Scarborough joined Massabesic and Portland at Biddeford. The boys placed first as Jacob Terry was the top individual in 16:10. The girls were second to Massabesic. They were led by Laura Volan (20:05) and Bethany Sholl (20:11) who were first and second respectively.

This Friday, Scarborough joins Cheverus and Westbrook at Sanford and South Portland (along with Bonny Eagle and Deering) runs at Massabesic.

In the Western Maine Conference, Cape Elizabeth welcomed Falmouth, Freeport and Sacopee last weekend. The girls were first as Rhoen Fiutak (19:27), Liv Palma (19:35) and Emma Shedd (19:42) went 1-2-3. The boys placed third. Kyle Kennedy was the individual winner in 15:45.

Golf

On the links, Cape Elizabeth improved to 5-0 Tuesday by blanking Gray-New Gloucester, 7-0. After going to York Wednesday and hosting NYA Thursday, the Capers welcome Yarmouth Monday and Freeport Wednesday of next week.

Scarborough took a 4-0 mark into Wednesday’s showdown at defending Class A champion Falmouth. The Red Storm beat Portland Monday, 10.5-2.5. Scarborough hosts Cheverus Monday and goes to South Portland Wednesday of next week.

South Portland fell to 0-4 after a 10.5-2.5 loss to Cheverus Tuesday. The Red Riots were home with Deering Wednesday, host Portland Monday and welcome Scarborough Wednesday of next week.

Scarborough senior Kayla Savage stops a shot during last week’s showdown at Falmouth. The Red Storm rallied to win in five sets and somewhat avenged their loss in last year’s Class A state match.

After two years without a home course due to school construction, the South Portland cross country program celebrated the opening of a new course last weekend. The boys’ and girls’ teams were joined at the ribbon-cutting by longtime coach Paul Brogan and athletic director Todd Livingston. Former longtime assistant coach John Chapin was also on hand for the ceremony.

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Sports Editor of The Forecaster since 2001.
Find detailed game stories at theforecaster.net.
I tweet prodigiously at @foresports.